"Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu" Decoration (1996–)

The "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu" Decoration (Albanian: Dekorata "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu") is a high honorary state decoration that is currently awarded to Albanian and foreign citizens in Albania, that have made an important contribution to the defence, reinforcement and development of the Republic of Albania.[2][3]

"Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu" Decoration
Current breast star of the order
Awarded by the President of Albania
Type	Order of merit
Eligibility	Albanians, foreign nationals[1]
Awarded for	Important contributions or specific heroic acts for the defense, strengthening and advancement of the Republic of Albania
Status	Currently constituted
Head	President of Albania

The name refers to Skanderbeg, who is the national hero of the Albanian people. The Decoration is granted by the President of Albania. It should not be confused with the royal Order of Skanderbeg, which is a dynastic order bestowed by the Albanian royal family.

Recipients

Some recipients to date include:[4]

• Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait (decorated by President of Albania Bamir Topi on 27 May 2012).[5]
• Anthony Bailey, Irish interfaith campaigner.[6]
• Laura Boldrini, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy.[7]
• Henry Brooke, retired British Court of Appeal judge.[8]
• Rudolf Decker, former Member of the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg, and Chair of the Vereinigung für Grundwerte und Völkerverständigung ["Foundation for Basic Values and International Understanding"] (awarded by President Bujar Nishani in June 2017).
• Rosemary DiCarlo, American diplomat.[9]
• Comte Jean d'Ogny (Commander), French politician (2008).
• Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, Israeli politician.[10]
• Sabri Godo, writer, screenwriter, politician (posthumously decorated by President of Albania Bujar Nishani on December 12, 2012).[11]
• Azem Hajdari, assassinated Albanian politician (decorated posthumously by proposal of President Bamir Topi on 10 September 2008).
• Sabri Hamiti, Albanian writer and scholar from Kosovo (decorated by President Bamir Topi on 10 May 2010).
• Ramush Haradinaj, former Prime Minister of Kosovo.[12]
• Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar (decorated by President Bamir Topi on 18 October 2011).[13]
• Fatos Nano, former Prime Minister of Albania (decorated by proposal of President Alfred Moisiu).
• Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Republic of Italy (2014).
• Doris Pack, German politician, President of EPP Women and former Member of the European Parliament 1989–2014.[14]
• Colin Powell, retired US General, former Secretary of State (decorated on 1 May 2003 by proposal of President Alfred Moisiu).
• Fatmir Sejdiu, President of Kosovo (decorated by President Bamir Topi on 3 November 2008).
• Ismail Serageldin, Vice President of the World Bank (1992-2000), Emeritus Librarian of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.[15]
• Aleksandar Stipčević, Croatian-Albanian historian and archaeologist.[16]
• Cafo Beg Ulqini, former Mayor of Ulqin, Leader of Second League of Prizren (decorated by proposal of President Bujar Nishani in April 2016).[17]
• Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister (decorated by President of Albania Bujar Nishani on 14 March 2014).[18]

See also

• Orders, decorations and medals of Albania

References

1. "Informacion për Dekorimet në Republikën e Shqipërisë" [Information on Decorations in the Republic of Albania]. The President of Albania (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
2. "Ligji për Dekoratat, Titujt e Nderit dhe Medaljet" [Law on Decorations, Honorary Titles and Medals] (PDF) (in Albanian). Fletorja Zyrtare. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
3. Rrumbullaku, Filip (2010). Dekorimet nga Princ Vidi deri sot (in Albanian). Tiranë: Shtëpia Botuese "Onufri". ISBN 978-99943-42-80-8.
4. "Dekorata "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"". The President of Albania (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
5. "News". The President of Albania (in Albanian).
6. "Honours and Awards". anthonybailey.org. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
7. "Presidenti Nishani pret Kryetaren e Dhomës së Deputetëve të Parlamentit italian, Laura Boldrini dhe e dekoron për kontributin e dhënë në forcimin e marrëdhënieve mes dy vendeve me medaljen "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"". The President of Albania (in Albanian). 13 October 2016. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
8. "Albania honours Sir Henry Brooke CMG for services to justice reform". FamilyLaw.co.uk. 16 May 2017.
9. "Presidenti Nishani dekoron Ambasadoren Rosemary A. Di Carlo me Dekoratën "Gjergj Kastriot Skënderbeu"". The President of Albania (in Albanian). 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
10. "Presidenti Nishani dekoron zotin Yuli-Yoel Edelstein me Dekoratën "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"". The President of Albania (in Albanian). 18 February 2016. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016.
11. "President Nishani honors the noted academic and political personality, historian and writer Sabri Godo (posthumously) with the "Gjergj Kastriot Scanderbeg" Order". The President of Albania. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
12. "Presidenti Nishani dekoron zotin Ramush Haradinaj me Urdhrin "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"". The President of Albania (in Albanian). 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
13. "Presidenti Topi pret Emirin e Shtetit tė Katarit, Sheikun Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani". The President of Albania (in Albanian). 18 October 2011. Archived from the original on 22 October 2011.
14. "Presidenti Nishani dekoron zonjën Doris Pack me Dekoratën "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu"". The President of Albania (in Albanian). 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
15. "President of Albania Awards Presidential Medal to Serageldin". Serageldin.com. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
16. "Ka vdekur Aleksandar Stipçeviq" [Aleksandar Stipčević passed away]. Zeri Online (in Albanian). 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015.
17. Gjokaj, F. (29 April 2016). "Cafo Beg Ulqini dekorohet me titullin "Kalorës i Urdhrit të Skënderbeut"". Koha Javore (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 18 October 2016.
18. "Abdullah honoured with highest civilian order by Albanian President". Gulf Today. 14 March 2014. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.